Cult - Salli Richardson-Whitfield

WHEN ALLISON BLAKE was hrst Introduced to viewers lastyear on Eureka she was a US Department of Defence agentworlung as a liaison between lhe town - Including Its localthlnk·tank G10ba Dynamics - and the government. In the firstseason finale, Once In a lifetime, the head of Global (andAllison's estranged husband), Dr Nathan Stark (Ed Quinn),conducts an expenment WIth the top-secret Arbfact whichalmost ends up destroying the town, As a result. at thestart of Season Two. Stark is fired from Global and e­placed by Allison. That has opened up a brand new doorof acting opportumtles on the show for Richardson."I think thiS year my character has much more of astory arc than the first eason," she notes. "We were stillgelting to knOW all these characters last year, so I don't feelI saw as much growth in Allison back then as I do this timearound. Some of her arc actually happened dUring SeasonOne, but she's not even aware of ,t because It took place Inan alternate reality [the aforementioned Once in a Lifetlme!.That would have been a big deal for her, but by the end ofthe episode she has no idea of thiS major lurnaround shemade In her love for Carter and her family. so that was kindof lost on Allison."This year, however, there's a real arc for my character.She takes on a new Job and IS the head of a camp ny now.How does that change you? Alhson isn't really reporting topeople any longer, but ins ead is making the same toughchoices that Nathan had to make. What type of person ISshe when she has that type of power' Those are all issuesfor' her to deal With, and Allison gets her hands a I:tHe dir ,which I find more interesllng to play then just being one·sided where you know she's good all the time. Now suddenlyyou're kind of looking at Allison a little bit strange too ndwondering what she might be up to. lllere are a 10 of differentups and downs for her this season, and I hke thal."BESIDES BEING THE head of Global, Alhson IS also a smgleparent to her young son Kevin (Meshach Peters). Like inthe real world, she has a lot of irons in the fire as a workiTlgmum, an balancing her personal and professional sides